Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-21
Sudden Rise of the Missouri-Narrow j
euna ~ GaftIarz

Sudden Rise of the MiseOuri-NarrOw ES-
cape of Settlers.
BISMARCK (Dak.) March 20th.-The Mis-
souri, river has risen foot here to-day.
The speed of the current is terrific, and the
situation generally grows worse. This rise
is equal to twenty feet in the upper river,
the water here being spread over six miles
of country. Six inches of snow fell YES
terday and this will add to the flood as
soon as the weather grows warmer again
The heroes of the day are the members of
the rescuing party who went into the low-
lands yesterday and saved the lives of
seven persons who were perched on the
tops of houses and in trees.
Dispatches from Fort Lincoln say that
people can be seen standing on hav stacks
and trees, and if not soon rescued will
perish in the food. Many claim that the
country opposite the fort contained many
inhabitants who are still in great danger
Similar reports come from Painted Woods
The report is denied that Superintendent
Graham, of the Northern Pacific, has been
drowned. He was telegraphed to come to
Bismarck on Friday evening, but failed
The Sibley Island gorge remains firm,
and if the present state of affairs continues
| a week "a permanent channel will be cut
across the country two miles east of the
| old bed of the Missouri. Huge cakes of
| ice are coming down the river and landing
| ON the meadow lands of the settlers. Il is
| impossible now to repair the Northern Pa
cific trestle on account of the flowing ice.
| The terrific rapbiity of the rise of the
river at Painted Woods is indicated by the
| experience of two families, who saw the
| flood in the distance and attempted to pack
| off their household goods preparatory to
| moving back from the stream to the Buttes.
| Their houses stood ON the highest point
| of the lowlands. Before the families were
| ready to start the water was within six feet
! of their houses. There were five children
| in the party, and before the Buttes could
| be reached the flood overlook them, aud
| the last part of the journey was made
| through three feet of water. One of the
| children narrowly escaped drowning.
Another train load of Eastern passengers,
which arrived to-day, will be compelled to
remain here until it is possible to cross the
Missouri. 1t is believed the Northern Pa
cific Company will be able to establish a
| transfer line of boats tomorrow.
THE TOWN OF MANDAN YET SAFE.
ST. PAUL, March 20th-The Pioneer Press
correspondent at Mandan telegraphs from
| Bismarck that the reported inundation of
Mandan is utterly false. No water has en-
| tered the streets from the Missouri or Heart
| rivers, but anxiety prevails among the peo-
pie of Mandan for the poor inhabitants
living on the flats near Bismarck. Busi-
ness is going on as usual. The only dam
| age has been to the trestle-work of the
bridge and track two miles east of Mandan.
A party will cross the submerged lowlands
on the ice tomorrow.
SOME LATER PARTICULARS.
ST. PAUL, March 20th.-A MA Bis
| marck special to the Pioneer Press says the
storm cleared away this morning, but the
river has risen slowly all day and is still
rising tonight an inch an hour, having
passed the high-water mark of the memoir
Bile food of 1881. All the lowlands are
now inundated, but the only houses flooded
on the Bismarck side are few squatters'
shocks. Bismarck is 40 feet above the water.
Some 200 emigrants west-bound are de-
layed here. From the bluffs one can see
huge cakes of ice in the streets of Mandan,
and the water extends to near the Inter
Ocean Hotel. Superintendent Odell has
received telegrams from the Western Divi-
sion of the road, via ST. Paul, that trains
are running through to Mandan from Port
land